At the Australian GP, Fernando Alonso received a controversial penalty after being blamed for George Russell’s retirement. The three-time Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert played a key role in the decision. Fans of the Formula 1 star then flooded Stewart with threats.
In the closing stages of the Melbourne race, Alonso found himself battling with Russell for sixth place. Concerned about his vulnerability in the DRS zones at Albert Park, Alonso attempted to brake earlier than usual at Turn 6 on the penultimate lap, in order to maintain a higher speed on the following straight.
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Russell, driving for Mercedes, was unexpectedly affected by this manoeuvre and eventually crashed into the turbulent air of Alonso’s Aston Martin. The incident prompted the stewards to investigate whether Alonso, a two-time F1 World Champion, had been driving erratically.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing Alonso’s explanation, the stewards issued him with a drive-through penalty for “potentially dangerous” driving, which was later changed to a 20-second penalty after the race.
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Controversial penalty drops Alonso two places
This penalty adjustment dropped Alonso from sixth to eighth in the final standings, with his team-mate Lance Stroll moving up to sixth and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda to seventh.
Telemetry data showed that Alonso had started braking 100 metres earlier than usual and had lightly tapped the brakes, leading the stewards to conclude that he had reduced his speed to an “extraordinary” degree, more than what would be reasonably expected to optimise his corner exit.
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Alonso unhappy
Alonso was unhappy with the decision, stating that he did not believe his actions were dangerous.
“George caught me quickly and I knew he was coming,” said Alonso after being relegated to eighth place.
“He was in DRS range for about five or six laps, so I was basically doing qualifying laps to stay in front. My aim was to maximise my exit speed from Turn 6 to defend against him. That’s what any race driver would do and I didn’t feel it was dangerous.
“It is disappointing to receive a penalty from the stewards for what was a tough but fair race. However, I’m glad that George is OK. It was distressing to see his car stranded in the middle of the track.”
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Alonso reiterated his views on social media, expressing surprise at the penalty and defending the nuances of Formula One racing.
“At no point did we intend to do anything wrong at those speeds. I believe that if there hadn’t been gravel in that corner, this incident would not have been scrutinised in any other racing scenario,” he wrote.
“With over 20 years of experience in F1, and having been part of epic battles such as Imola in 2005 and 2006, and Brazil in 2023, changing race lines and adjusting entry speeds for better exits is part of the art of motorsport.”
Aston Martin boss doesn’t appeal
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack also commented on the penalty, expressing surprise at the decision but confirming that the team would not appeal.
“It was surprising to see him drop to P8 with the post-race penalty, but we have to accept the decision,” said Krack.
“Despite this, it was a positive day overall as we scored 12 championship points. Full credit goes to both drivers who effectively converted our grid positions into points with two very different tyre strategies.”
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Former F1 driver steward receives ‘death threats’
The three-time Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert played a pivotal role in this decision. Fans of the Formula 1 star then made clear their displeasure with Stewart.
“I received a flood of death threats on social media. I’m lucky that I have broad shoulders. I think it’s pathetic that I was the one who was made a scapegoat,” the 59-year-old told Sky Sports.
Many fans of the Spanish veteran did not agree with this decision at all.
“There were messages with dagger emojis at the bottom of the screen; people saying we know where you live, we’ll come get you,” the British ex-racer continued, adding: “Most of them were Spanish . They should have understood it because it was clear in the statement that was released how the decision had been reached.”
“The threats continued for two weeks and are still coming. This is part of the world of social media, where everyone has an opinion but no facts to back it up,” added the former Formula 1 driver was active in the premier motorsport class for Lotus and Sauber, among others.
The negative comments and reactions were “unfortunately part of it,” he added.
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“Fans of the Formula 1 star then made clear their displeasure with Stewart.” (sic)
Stewart? What on Earth are you on about?
Time for a dementia check, M’Lud.